Speaking-tube for fire-engines



(No Model.)

W. E. GASSELLS. SPEAKING TUBE FOR FIRE ENGINES. No. 376,067. Paten Witnesses.-

$14M fi N PETERS. Photo-Lithographer, Wah ngtnlk D. C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILFRED E. CASSELLS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPEAKING-TUBE FOR FIRE-ENGINES.

SI ECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 376,067, dated January 10, 18E8. Application filed November 10, 1887. Serial No. 254,848. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, WILFRED E. CASSELLS, of Boston, in the county of Suii'olk, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Speaking-Tubes for Fire-Engines,-ot' which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in' the art or science to which said invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a steam fireengine provided with my improvement; Fig. 2, an enlarged side elevation ofa hosenozzl'e provided with my improved tube, the mouthpiece being shown in position for use and the hose represented as broken off; Fig. 3, a vertical longitudinal section of the same with the mouth-piece removed; Fig. 4, a vertical transverse section taken on linear a: in Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a like view on line y y in Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a side elevation of the mouth-piece; Fig. 7, a vertical longitudinal section of a portion of hose, showing the method of coupling the speaking-tube; Fig. 8, a like view showing one of the gates or valves closed; Fig. 9, a top plan view of the portion shown in Fig. 7; and Fig. 10, avertical transverse section on liuez z in Fig. 9.

Like letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in the differentfigures of the drawings.

My invention relates more especially to means for furnishing direct communication be tween the pipe or hose men and engineer of fireengines during the progress ofa tire; and it consists in a novel construction and arrange ment of parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed, the object being to produce a simpler and more effective device of this character than is now in ordinary use.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all conversant with such matters from the following explanation:

In the drawings, A represents the engine, B the hose, and C the nozzle, these parts being all of the ordinary form and construction.

A horizontally-arranged non-fiexible tube or pipe, I), is secured to the engine A, so that its inner end terminates at f, above the ordinary hose-coupling d. its outer end being provided with a vertically-arranged mouth-piece, 9, supported in standards 12, within convenient distance ofthe engineer. A flexible tube or pipe, m, of the same diameter as the pipe I), is secured to each section of the hose B by means of straps or bands 1, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9. The different sections of the hose B are connected by an ordinary screwcoupling, 19, inthe usual manner.

At the end ofeach section of hose B the tube an is provided with a section of rigid pipe, g, (see Figs. 7 and 8,) bent or curved slightly at r to pass over the coupling 1), and so constructed and arranged that when the hose B is coupled, as described, said rigid pipes will be coupled by the male and female coupling t. The pipes q are provided with openings 2), adapted to receive the mouth-piece D. A valve, 20, is pivoted in the pipe q, and. to the outer end of the stem of said valve is secured a horizontally arranged cap or cover, 15, adapted to fit over and close the opening 12 in such a manner that when said cover is removed, as shown in Fig. 8, the valve 10 will be turned at right angles to the tube or, and thereby shut off communication from that section of tube.

A section of rigid tube, 16, is secured to the nozzle 0, said tube being open at its outer end to receive the mouth-piece D, (see Fig. 2,) and provided with a hinged cover, 17, adapted to close said opening when not in use. The tube 16 is secured to the nozzle by an exteriorlyscrew-threaded annular ring, 18, and the tube .m is secured to the section of hose to which the nozzle is to be attached (see Fig. 3) by a similar interiorly-screw-threaded ring, 19, so that said nozzle may be screwed into said section in the usual manner. The caps or covers 15 and 17 are provided with whistles 21, after the manner of ordinary speaking-tubes, to attract the attention of the party with whom it is desired to communicate. It will'be understood that the line-men or pipe-men are each provided with one of these mouth-pieces D.

In the use of my improvement, the hose 'B being coupled to the engine A, as described, it the pipe-man in charge of the nozzle, for example,desi res the supply of water lessened,

or entirely shut off, by opening the cap 17 in the pipe 16 and inserting the mouth-piece D therein he can immediately attract the attention of and instruct the engineer.

In case a fireman at any portion of the line desires to communicate with the engineer or the man at the nozzle, by removing a cap, 15, which closes the valve w at the same time in any section ofhose B, and inserting the mouthpiece D he can communicate in either direction desired in a manner which will be readily understood by all conversant with such matters without a more explicit description.

It will readily be seen that the use of my improvement is especially valuable when the fireman in charge of the nozzle is within a burning building and surrounded by smoke, as by applying the mouth-piece g to the speaking-tube at the nozzle, as described, he can at once obtain a supply of fresh air for breathing,

,. as well as communicate immediately with the engineer or line-man.

Having thus explained my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a fire-engine, a speaking-tube attached to the hose by straps, bands, or other suitable means, and through which communication may be had between the firemen, substantially as described.

2. In a fire-engine, a speakingtube attached to the hose of said engine and provided with openings for receiving a mouth piece, and valves for cutting off communication through said tube, the different sections of which are adapted to be coupled together, substantially as set forth.

3. In a fire-engine, the hose B, having the coupling p, in combination with the tube m, secured to said hose and having the rigid portion q, provided with the opening 72, valve w, and cap 15, substantially as set forth.

4. In a fire-engine, the engine A, provided with the pipe I), having the mouth-piece g, in combination with the hose B and tube m, having the rigid portion q, provided with the opening 12, valve to, and cap 15, substantially as set forth.

5. In a fire engine, the tube 16, provided with the hinged cover 17, in combination with the nozzle 0, hose B, pipe at, and couplingrings 18 and 19, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of the following instrumentalities, to wit: an engine, a speaking-tube secured to said engine, a hose, a speaking-tube secured to said hose and having its sections provided with couplings, a portable mouthpiece, openings in said tube to receive said mouth-piece, and valves for closing said tube, provided with caps for closing said openings, substantially as described.

WVILFRED E. OASSELLS.

\Vitnesses:

O. M. SHAW, E. M. SPINNEY. 

